Obituary for Bernetta Mooney (née Walsh) at Caul's Funeral Home (2024)

The world is darker today – a ray of sunshine has been extinguished.

It shone first on her family from the time she was a child to the present day, on the students she mentored in her long teaching career, most especially “sus hombres en Monsefú, Perú” and on her young charges in Mary Queen of Peace School, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, at St. John Bosco School in Shea Heights, St. John’s, on her sisters in the Mercy Congregation, and on the unworthy man she met while Newfoundland teachers were on strike in 1983.

As was common at the time, she was born into a large family on Bell Island, being the 3rd of nine who survived into adulthood. Her parents were Clara Walsh (née Roberts) and Richard Walsh. Her older siblings were Frank (deceased) and Mary, and she was followed by Rich (deceased), Ed, George, Pat, Betty (deceased) and Brian. Her family suffered the loss of 5 other children at a young age, although Bernetta only remembered one of them.

She was a small child, almost doll-like, much-favoured by her mother and father. She started school late (maybe because her mother thought she was too small to enter the rough-and-tumble of life in a large school). She progressed through the trials (unknown today) of public exams under the strict guidance of the Sisters of Mercy until she became, first, a teacher (in her first year she taught a class of 52 grade one students – in the days before kindergarten) and then followed the example of her school mentors and joined the Sisters of Mercy herself.

She spent 16 years in the Mercy Congregation working as a teacher and attending university. The highlight of her career to that point was the six and a half years she spent as a teacher in a school founded by the Mercy Congregation in Monsefú in the north of Perú in 1961, where she took on a class of 5-year old boys, who considered her to be an “angel from heaven” with blue eyes and wearing a white, ankle-length habit – and her mezzo-soprano voice was very much that of an angel. She remained their teacher until she departed in 1968. A special bond was created with these boys (and some girls) that has lasted until the present day.

Ultimately, the religious life ceased to be her forte, but teaching continued to be her passion. For the next 19 years she mentored boys and girls, mostly in Grade 8. Her spritely and dynamic character allowed her to develop once again a similar relationship to that with the Peruvian children. It was not quite as intense because the children moved on to another grade in the following year. Maybe an expression uttered by a boy in St. John Bosco School gives some flavour to the latter years of her career: “She’s small, but she’s mighty!”

She made Patrick a very happy man when she married him 40 years ago – she was a loving wife and supporter and was happy to follow him when career changes and relocation uprooted any prospect of a settled existence. Her already large family became even larger with the arrival of in-laws and a total of 25 nieces and nephews. Her marriage to Patrick was not blessed with children but she became a very special aunt and great-aunt to those nephews and nieces she got to know. Unfortunately, distance meant that not all of these families became familiar to her. It may not be appropriate to single out one person, but Bernetta dearly loved one very special niece, Susan Watson (née Kent) – a love that has been returned a thousand-fold. She was able to spend many winters visiting Susan in Australia, where she also became the very special great-aunt of two beautiful girls. They appreciated her wicked sense of humour and provided her with great joy when they celebrated her 90th birthday in January, before her declining health robbed us all of her sparkle, joy, fun, and love.

Special mention must also be made of her cousin, Sister Loretta Walsh, whose love, devotion, and nursing sustained Bernetta (and Patrick) on her final journey. Thank you.

Cremation has already occurred. Visitation will take place at Caul’s Funeral Home on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

Her funeral mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, May 15, 2024 at St. Teresa’s Church, Mundy Pond Road at 11:00 am. Mass will be followed by inurnment at the Anglican Cemetery, Forest Road.

Reception to follow at the 150 RCAF Wing at 565 Roosevelt Avenue, St. John’s, A1A 5B2.

The funeral service will be Livestreamed and accessible via: https://tom0349.wixsite.com/streamingservices/cauls

No flowers by request. Donations may be made in Bernetta’s memory to the Misericordia Mission Fund, which supports the work of the Mercy Sisters in Perú or a charity of one’s choice.

Bernetta’s voice has been extinguished but it will live on in the hearts of many.

May she rest in peace.

HOMAGE TO GABRIELA

by Dr. Jesus Jacinto Custodio Lopez, Chiclayo, Peru
Our Lady of Mercy School, Monsefu, 1962-1968

In our childhood memories there are people who shine with a special luminosity and leave deep marks in our hearts. One such shining light is our dear Bernetta Walsh, whom we knew as Sister Gabriela, a teacher who extended her arms to us, welcomed us, and sheltered us in the warmth of her feelings and her wisdom.

With the passion of an artist, the patience of a wise woman, and the love of a mother, we were her children - "sus hijos"; she moulded our childhood minds, sowing seeds of knowledge, love, and improvement that, with the passing of years, bore fruit and made us good men and women - she forged the foundation for the future of our society.

How can we not remember her smile and the sweetness of her face when she taught us our first letters and participated in our childhood games? We all ran round her, we wanted to touch her, we wanted to see her smile, we wanted her to lull us with her sweet voice when she sang.

I still remember the tears we shed when she had to go back to her homeland. We were between 11 and 12 years old at the time; we did not understand why she had to go back; we felt that someone very dear was abandoning us. We felt alone.

Her presence in the classroom was not only that of a teacher but also of a being full of love, whose kindness and understanding enveloped us with a warm hug, offering comfort in our moments of crying and celebrating our triumphs with overflowing joy. We remember her love so much that we have forgotten the times that, when in her demand for good behaviour, she gave us a shake for some childish pranks. 25 years later we met again in Newfoundland, thanks to an invitation from the Sisters of Mercy. We talked, laughed, and sang the children's songs she taught us. Her spirit continued to be young and vigorous - as I remembered it as a child.

Although the years left their mark on her face, and her silver hair was testament to the long journey of her life, her spirit remained the same during the 4 times she returned to Peru in recent years and continued with video chats until a few months ago.

The first time she returned to Monsefir after 38 years, the people of the town welcomed her like a queen. How could we forget a teacher who came from very far away, Newfoundland, to educate us children? How could your former students, now in their late 60s, forget you? It was a very special feeling that invaded each of us; seeing you reminded us of those days back in the 1960s when we studied at "Our Lady of Mercy School".

We were a fortunate generation; we acquired a very special education thanks to the work of the Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy. The people recognized your work, which explains the spontaneous displays of affection and gratitude when you re-entered Monsefu after so many years.

Today, as we look back on the paths we have travelled, we can only marvel at the legacy left by this venerable teacher. Every life she touched, every mind she illuminated, are testaments to her dedication and love of teaching. In the hearts of each of us, the echo of her wise words and the brilliance of her example will endure, always reminding us of the eternal value of a truly exceptional teacher.

Gabriela, you will always be in our hearts, your teaching, your advice, and your wisdom to correct our mistakes have made us good men and women. We now apply those same lessons to our own children.

For all this and much more, it is my turn to say "Goodbye Gabriela" - thank you for your love, for your teachings, and for your sweetness. From now on, at night when we close our eyes trying to sleep we will hear your voice lulling us to sleep like when we were children and you sang us a song to take a nap in the classroom.

Rest in peace my dear Gabriela